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High Surf — Indian River, Florida

December 29, 2016 · NOAA Storm Events record

Direct deaths
1
Direct injuries
0
Property damage
—
Area
Indian River

Event narrative (NOAA)

A 58-year old man from New York was standing in the ocean facing the shoreline when a large wave crashed into him from behind. Rescuers found the man face down in the water and performed CPR on him until medical crews arrived and transported him to a local hospital, where he died the following day. An autopsy revealed he died of a broken neck, after being hit by a large wave. A nearby wave buoy observed 3 foot seas at the time of the incident and life guards indicated occasional large swells up to 5 feet, breaking close to the shore in knee-deep water.

Other notable high surf events in Florida

Coastal Broward · November 11, 20033 killedCoastal Palm Beach · April 20, 20032 killedBay · March 28, 20091 killedVolusia · August 20, 20081 killedVolusia · May 7, 20071 killedBrevard · September 6, 20071 killed

Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.

High Surf — Indian River, Florida, December 29, 2016 | DisasterAtlasUSA